Andrew, you mean the world to me. You have been a brother, a mentor, a friend, a pastor. Without you, we might not have moved to Boston. Without your encouragement, I might not have lead a small group. Without your calling me out, I might not have pastored people. Without you, I would be a much different person. You believed in me, you encouraged me, you called me out. For that, I am very thankful. I love you, my brother. Our Park Men brotherhood would be very different without your gifts. Others have learned to play your role, but none does it as well as you do. You always ask the deeper question about how we're doing. We have counselors, we have butt-kickers, we have pundits, but you are the pastor of the group. And I love you for it.
You are celebrated. You have touched many thousands, you have changed the lives of many hundreds, you are cherished. You are loved.
I think fondly of the partnership we've had over these years and wish that we would have had more. I miss you, Andrew. I love you, Andrew. I can't wait until I see you again, Andrew.
Chi-Ray Chien
Thank you to you and Erica for your friendship to Andrew and Val over so many years, and your beautiful thoughts.
ReplyDeleteLove from Val's family,
Christine
Thank you CR for this blog, it's so much easier than the mailing-list/website on lotsahelpinghands! And we still know and use Andrew's hint about getting to the heart of a small boy! (In fact, it turned to work for a small girl too :-D!).
ReplyDeleteThanks and wishing tons of blessings to the whole family,
Marketa